Hello friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I’m sharing a colorful mixed media journal page featuring a beautiful PaperArtsy Tracy Scott bloom and a gel print with a little unexpected sparkle.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know how much I love experimenting with my gel plate. Sometimes I start with a plan, and other times I simply wonder, “What would happen if I tried this?”
For this background, I decided to experiment with adding pieces of gold foil directly to my gel plate, and I love the random bits of shine it created!
✨ Adding Gold to the Gel Plate
I started by placing small pieces of gold foil randomly across my gel plate.
Rather than trying to create a specific pattern, I let the pieces fall where they wanted. I then added acrylic paint and pulled my print as usual.
The result was a colorful background with unexpected flecks and patches of gold scattered throughout.
I love techniques like this because you never know exactly what you’re going to get. Those imperfect little bits of gold catch the light and add so much interest without taking over the entire background.
🌸 Creating the Watercolor Bloom
With my background finished, I reached for the gorgeous PaperArtsy Tracy Scott 97 stamp.
I stamped and heat embossed the flower in white, which created a beautiful resist for my watercoloring.
For color, I used the Lindy’s Gang Under the Sea #2 set, letting the colors flow and blend within the embossed lines. The white embossing keeps the bloom feeling light and airy while allowing those vibrant Lindy’s colors to really shine.
Once everything was dry, I fussy cut the flower so I could layer it over my gel-printed background.
🎨 Bringing the Layers Together
After positioning the bloom, I added a few simple white marks along the side of the page.
I didn’t want to add too much and compete with the flower or those beautiful flashes of gold. Sometimes a few simple marks are all you need to bring a mixed media piece together.
The contrast between the loose gel print, metallic foil, crisp white embossing, and watercolor creates plenty of texture and movement without needing lots of additional embellishments.
✂️ Adding One More Layer of Texture
For my final step, I ran the entire piece through my die-cutting machine using the AALL & Create #26 Frayed Frames die.
I love the slightly imperfect, distressed edge it gives the page. It works beautifully with the unpredictable nature of the gel print and gives the finished piece another layer of texture before adding it to my journal.
💛 Why This Page Works
One of my favorite things about this page is the combination of different finishes.
There’s the softness of watercolor, the boldness of the gel print, the crisp white embossing, the distressed edges, and then those unexpected flashes of metallic gold.
Each element brings something different, but together they create a page that feels colorful, layered, and full of movement.
💡 A Little Creative Challenge
The next time you pull out your gel plate, try adding something unexpected before pulling your print.
✨ Scatter a few pieces of foil.
🎨 Experiment with different paint colors.
🌸 Pair your finished print with a stamped or watercolored focal image.
Most importantly, don’t worry about getting perfect foil placement. Let the gel plate do its thing!
Those random marks and imperfect little pieces of gold might just become your favorite part of the background.
Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this journal page inspires you to pull out your gel plate, experiment with your supplies, and see what happens when you add a little unexpected sparkle to your next print.
Have a wonderful week and happy creating!
 PaperArtsy – Tracy Scott 97 Shop at: TP |
 AALL & Create – 26 Frayed Frames Shop at: TP |
 Embossing – Bright White Ultra Fine Shop at: Lindys | AZ | TP |
 WOW! Embossing – Clear Embossing Pad Shop at: WOW US | TP |
 Lavinia – Sentiment Stickers – Uplifting Collection Shop at: TP |
 Lindy’s Gang – Magical Shakers – Under the Sea #2 Shop at: Lindys | TP |
 Gel Press – Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: AZ | TP | Misc |
 Speedball – 2″ Brayer Shop at: TP |